Stinky eggs

Dyeing eggs with Grandma Nancy (Mike's mom) and Aunt Becca (Mike's sister). Every year I forget how much the hard boiled eggs stink up my fridge. Blech...

Smothered Southern Green Beans

For a long time I have loved the green beans at Razzoo's cajun restaurant but I never knew what their proper name was (they weren't on the menu, they were just a veggie of the day) UNTIL we went to a new local cajun food place here in Katy called Orleans Seafood Kitchen which is REALLY good (I-10 and Westgreen). I saw on their menu "smothered green beans." So I googled it and finally came upon this recipe that I decided to try yesterday for Easter dinner. They were a hit! Not fat free by any means but really good. I found them on the blog Beverly's Back Porch and here is the recipe!

...side note - she added potatoes, but I did not.

Smothered Green Beans and Potatoes
6 servings

1/2 pound bacon, chopped
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chopped onions
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups water
1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3/4 pound)

Fry the bacon in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until slightly crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Add the flour to the fat in the pan and stirring constantly for 5 to 8 minutes, make a medium brown roux, the color of peanut butter.

Add the onions and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, or until wilted. Add the salt, cayenne, black pepper, and water. Stir until the mixture is smooth and thick. Add the beans and potatoes. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Potatoes should be fork tender. Uncover and cook for about 3 minutes.

Fold in the reserved bacon and serve immediately.

Kendall's version of jumping jacks

I have no words...

Round and round and round we go...

Avery LOVES our meager "castle" in the backyard and now that she can walk to it and not crawl across the dirty, sharp, dirty, muddy slate and get horrendously filthy, I let her play on it! I've got "helicopter parenting" issues picturing endless accidents happening - her falling backwards off of it, breaking an arm, the drive to the ER...and the bills....oh the bills... You'll see what I mean about 2 min 15 secs into the video when she almost falls out the side...

So I fly my "helicopter" in the house and just settle for a quick prayer...leaving the door open for sounds of screams and the occasional wasp.

How to...

...paint a dresser. I think that I covered it all here! Call me with questions.

Supplies:

1. Sandpaper - 320 grit for first round of sanding & 220 grit for "antiquing" (depending on on the size of waht you are sanding, get a LOT - not just 2 sheets like I thought. If you have an automoatic sander make sure you sand with the grain of the wood.
2. Sandpaper block.
3. Wood filler (if changing out hardware or fixing up a really old piece of furniture).
4. Putty knie to apply wood filler (or anything else with a flat edge).
5. Lint-free rags (to clean after sanding and get rid of all dust).
6. Foam paint rollers (3-5 of these).
7. Foam sponge paintbrushes.
8. Plastic wrap (use Saran Wrap in between coats of painting) wrap around your foam roller/brush so that they don't dry out between coats.
9. Small paint trays - 3-4 (or get 1-2 and line with aluminum foil and throw away between).
10. Primer - Point 1) I've heard that there is a "no sanding" primer by Kilz that can be used. Point 2) I used "water-based" primer by Kilz only because the Home Depot guy said it should be used for furniture BUT later read that you can use oil-based for furniture but because of its fumes, you don't want to use it for painting walls. WHO KNOWS? Please provide insight if you have it. My question: can you use water based primer and oil based paint? Inexperience asking here... Okay, I actually just ran across an answer to my own question and here is the answer: If you are worried about wear and tear on your furniture, it may be tempting to use oil-based exterior paint instead of water-based latex paint. However, oil-based paints are typically meant for outdoor use and tend to have an odor. Oil-based paints also take a much longer time to dry than do latesx paints and are harder to clean up. So when you are choosing paint, do yourself a favor and go with latex. Point 3) If you want the wood grain to show through, I've read "do NOT use primer."
11. Painter's tape
12. Paint - eggshell or semi-gloss latex
13. Polyurethane - I used water-based, semi-gloss

Here's the pattern I followed:

1. Remove hardware, insert wood filler. Let dry according to directions.
2. Sand all surfaces (320 grit). Don't get A.D.D. about this [per Judith Alberson], just rough up the surfaces well.
3. Cleam with a damp LINT FREE cloth to get rid of all the dust (use dustbuster if need be).
4. Apply thin coat of primer.
5. Sand and clean with damp cloths.
6. *Optional - prime again, but probably not needed.
7. Color time!
8. Apply paint - THINLY!!!
9. Let dry for at least 2 hours.
10. Sand and clean.
11. Apply 2nd coat of paint.
12. Sand and clean.
13. I applied a 3rd coat of paint mostly because I noticed that during my sanding my paint was getting scraped off and turning a weird shade of green...I'm questioning if I was sanding too hard?! Did I really need to sand? You need to get rid of drop marks but really...I'm not sure if I was just sanding too much or if it was because I was using green paint.
14. Sanded and cleaned after 3rd coat. (just paint as many coats until you have the coverage you want)
15. Poly time! Stir the poly, don't shake the can.
16. Apply a thin layer with foam roller.
17. Sand and clean (I think? Again, I used the 320 grit and "thought" I was sanding lightly but the green started to scratch off...so if the poly is on light enough...whatever, skip the sanding and just wait until it dries. Again, just beware of the drip marks!
18. All in all I did 2 coats of poly.
19. Antiquing - after a couple of hours use your 22o grit sandpaper and rough up the edges. It's scary to somewhat destroy something that you've spent so much time on but, be gently, go slowly and you'll get the hang of it! Start with the edges - any place that you would think would be worn naturally after years and years of ownership.
20. Then wait for it to completely dry...and wait...a full 24 hours before loading it up with books, clothes, etc. Before making it "functional."
21. Put on the hardware!!! Old or new and behold your transformation!!!

My inspiration again - and a great website for resources is Life in the Fun Lane blog. Go to her FAQ link for her details and for exquisite examples of truly turning trash to treasure click on Our DIY Archives. Hope this helps you in your remake endeavors!!!!

Fini!

It took a lot longer and many more applications, sandings, and trips to Home Depot but it is done! I'll do more details later about the process but I think it turned out pretty cute. It looks pretty pukey green here with the lighting but it's a nice "avocado" green.

I did antique it on the edges but the pictures came out blurry (as my children ran crazy after dinner hyper circles around me) so I'll do those later...plus it's ice cream time. Anyway, I'm glad that I antiqued the edges to give it the worn look because as I was taking the changing table down, Avery grabs one of the legs and wonks it into the front leg of her new dresser. Nice babe. Way to help mommy out!

The dresser...before all of the baby crap gets put on it!

The pulls. Got these in black at Hobby Lobby and they were cheap enough for me to risk painting. And they turned out great!
Picked up this wrapping paper at Tuesday Morning months ago and it goes perfect in the bottom of the drawers as a liner. Well, I think so.
Close up of the hardware. I "antiqued" it as well.

Chubby cheeks sitting on the changing pad on the top of the dresser.

Blogging in Bed

Day 1 of officially starting Project Paint the Dresser for Avery's room.

It's been a long day - but isn't that always how it is when your day starts at Walmart?! At least it is our little very new ritzy Katy Walmart. I mean really - unlike the normal chaos of the 30 people heading to the checkout lines each with a shopping cart overloaded with crap... oh no. Ours has cashiers WAITING for you...not just waiting but so bored they head over to the clothing section to straighten it up while they wait for someone. It....is....AWESOME (sounds like Yo Gabba Gabba in my head).

So okay, okay, enough already. it was a long day but I got the drawers nicely sanded in the backyard while the girls played. I had no idea how much sandpaper I'd use. I mean, really it wasn't THAT much, but I thought 2 sheets would get me through. Oh no...It'll be at least 10-15 by the time I'm done. Started at Wal-mart with supplies - I wanted just to get it sanded at least and maybe primed. And here it is midnight and I got both done!!!! Sanded...primed...and sanded again. Ready for colored paint. If I can get throught the trip to Home Depot with both girls in the morning I think that I may be able to finish it tomorrow and hopefully will have it Avery's room on Sunday. Fingers crossed.

Without further ado...
Here are a few of today's supplies. Sanding block, sandpaper, googles, wood filler, primer chocolate and wine. And of course, I was very careful to make sure that all of the right precautions were taken - the placed the wine in a plastic tumbler - SAFETY FIRST! And who doesn't need a little dark chocolate supplement?! Thanks mom for my V-day indulgences.